Comprising 4,400 participants from 128 countries to participate in 22 sports, the Paris Paralympics 2024 is poised to be an exciting display of physical ability and will. With 549 medals up for grabs, this promises to be a unique tournament stressing the amazing skills of athletes with physical or cognitive challenges.
The Paralympic Games: what are they?
Major international multi-sport event including competitors with a spectrum of impairments, the Paralympic Games are Running for eleven days, the 17th summer edition of the Games will provide a forum for top competition and inspirational tales of personal success
Where and when will the Games take place?
The opening ceremony is set for Wednesday, August 28 at 7 PM UK time. Starting at the River Seine and working towards the Champs Élysées, the event will depart custom and take place in the heart of Paris. The ceremony will include a public “people’s parade” leading to the Paralympic torch being lit at Place de la Concorde.
Starting the next day, the sports events will take place using eighteen of the thirty-five Olympic venues from previous summer. La Défense Arena will feature swimming events; the Stade de France will handle athletics. Among the new developments are para-shooting in Châteauroux, the only event outside of Paris, and blind football replacing beach volleyball at the Eiffel Tower stadium
Important Events to Keep Track of
Starting on Friday, August 30 and running for nine days with daily medal presentations, the track and field program is the focal point of the Paralympics. Not miss the crowded Saturdays; September 7 boasts 22 finals. Highlights also are the wheelchair rugby final on Monday, September 2 and the para-rowing finals on Sunday, September 1 at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium
Rising British Stars
Paralympics GB presents a squad of 215 competitors comprising 81 debutants. Watch 13-year-old swimming prodigy Iona Winnifrith, who will be swimming the SB7 100m breaststroke and SM7 individual medley, and 19-year-old cyclist Archie Atkinson, racing in the C4 pursuit. World champion in para-badminton Rachel Choong will also make her first appearance following first-time inclusion of her classification into the tournament.
Recognising Classification
Classification separates competitors depending on the degree of their impairments, therefore guaranteeing fair competition. Although fundamental, if an impairment is not judged to be sufficient, it might cause exclusion. This fuels discussions on whether classes should be contracted for increased competitiveness or extended for more inclusion.
Watching the Games: How to Do It
Not particularly for track and field events at the Stade de France, but still 500,000 tickets remain. Wheelchair fencing and blind football, two sold-out sports, could have more tickets issued.
Channel 4 will provide in-depth coverage in the UK covering more than 1,300 hours of live events and up to 18 live streaming on YouTube. Their material will have British sign language, closed audio explanations, and subtitles. Radio coverage by the BBC guarantees thorough access to the Games.
Offering both an exciting competition and a chance to honour the skills and stories of competitors worldwide, the Paris Paralympics 2024 promises to be a historic occasion. Whether seen from far-off or personally, this is a sporting event not to miss.